Reclaiming Power: The Black Maternal Crisis
A documentary-dance film by Stephanie Baker & Nekeisha Wall
Aya Birth & Community Wellness is reclaiming the legacy and tradition of the historic black midwife. Listen to our founder, Tina Braimah, speak on the Black Maternal Crisis.
INTRODUCING
AYA BIRTH & COMMUNITY WELLNESS
LAUNCHING MARCH 2024
Aya is birthing justice right here in the Southeast
'Aya' is the Ghanaian Adinkra symbol of endurance, independence, perseverance and resourcefulness. As North Carolina’s first Black-led birth and wellness center, we wanted the name of the business to embody that and signify the reclaiming of safe maternal and general healthcare for people of color.
Vision
We envision a new standard of care anchored in the tenants of
reproductive justice powered by the reclamation of community wisdom and traditions.
Mission
To create a culture of community-centered maternal and reproductive health care for people of color by scaling a Black-led network of birth and wellness centers across the Southeast.
Services
Aya is proud to be offering the following services
- Birth Center
- Open Access Maternity Care
- Gender-Affirming Clinic
- Well-Person Care
Founder & Executive Director
Tina Braimah
(she/her)
Mrs. Braimah (she/her) was the first Black Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM), since the Granny midwives, attending home births in the state. She has over 20 years of experience supporting women in a variety of settings. She received her Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in Nurse Midwifery from ECU in 2015. After graduation, she worked briefly as a labor and delivery nurse and then as a home birth midwife serving Fayetteville and surrounding areas. In 2021, Mrs. Braimah was named Carolina Nurses' League’s Midwife of the Year. A true advocate and life-long student of the midwifery model of care, she also co-founded the Mocha Midwifery Collective which seeks to decrease maternal health disparities by increasing diversity among out-of-hospital birthworkers. Mrs. Braimah is also a respected and active member of several maternal health organizations including Birth Center Equity and American College of Nurse Midwives.
Community & Partnerships Manager
Amber Rodriguez
(she/her)
Amber Rodriguez draws on 14 years of experience of working with the military as a clinical assistant, providing well-person care, pediatric check-ups, and other clinical operations for military families. Her passion for the midwifery model of care came as a result of birthing her three children in the birth center setting. After 10 years as a doula, she knows the importance of educating and personally empowering birthing people to strive for the birth experience they desire. Amber formerly served as the Office Manager and Birth Assistant at Sankofa Birth & Women’s Care; she has received her certification from the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) as a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM). Amber is also a vocal advocate for the reproductive rights of people in the LGBTQIA+ community and plans to carry that forward at Aya Birth & Community Wellness.
upcoming & PAST events
Apr. 15 | 9th Annual Women's Health Awareness Conference @ NCCU |
Jun. 3 | Queer Family Planning Health Fair @ Soul Sanctuary |
Mar. 25, 2023 | Midwives All Call & Listening Session via Zoom |
Mar. 18 2023 | LGBTQ Center Durham Queer Health Fair @ Durham Central Park |
Mar. 4 2023 | [Closed] LGBTQIA+ Listening Session |
Feb. 10 2023 | Latinx Community Listening Session & Story Time @ El Futuro |
Nov. 11 2022 | Community Listening Session @ Aya Headquarters |
Oct. 26 2022 | Community Listening Session @ Durham Main Library |
Oct. 30 2022 | Community Listening Session via Zoom |
More info
coming soon!
Visit this page for more information about volunteer opportunities, career postings, partnerships and more.
Follow us on social and sign up for our newsletter for real-time updates!
